Faith schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Faith schools - Essay Example The term faith schools is aimed at the relationship between education and faith (Grander, et al, 2005). They are one of a variety of schools including speciality schools, grammar schools, comprehensive schools and others. They can be defined as "schools, both primary and secondary, which are provided under the aegis of recognized religious faith" (Wallace, 2008). Thus, they provide students a general education with a framework of specific religious belief including formal and informal activities. The discussion about faith schools is not easy because it involves a number of complications at both policy and practice levels. A strong debate rises among politicians, educators, media and the public conducted with a level of bias about whether this type of schools should be banned or not. This essay will investigate this issue presenting the various sides of debate. It will critically demonstrate the different assumptions, principles and verifications that each perspective gives and reveals the significance of such debate on the educational process in the UK. Doing so, it will focus on three main aspects that form the base of such debate. These include: the matching with educational aims, the educational achievement and the implications on community integration. The aim of education is to develop capacities and capabilities among people to lead a good life (Pring, 2005). Such abilities include problem solving and critical and analytical thinking that encourages personal development and build the foundation for a truly rational individual (King cited Pring, 2010). Some people stand against faith schools as they believe they mismatch many of the essential aims of education. They argue that these schools work under specific agendas that focus on nurturing particular set of religious beliefs and attitudes over the presence of attaining the basic common educational purposes. Accordingly, they